New York ( The Empire State ) The Dutch were the first settlers in New York, establishing Fort Orange near Albany in 1624 and New Amsterdam on the island of Manhattan a year later. After the English took over in the 1660s, the colony was renamed New York, after the Duke of York. One of the original 13 states to join the Union (it entered in 1788), New York is known as the "Empire State." The state includes everything from skyscrapers in Manhattan to rivers, mountains, and lakes in upstate New York. Niagara Falls is one of the chief attractions. New York is the leading center of banking, finance and communication in the United States. Much of the state's greatness lies in exciting New York City, the largest city in the United States and the fourth largest city in the world; its many theaters, museums, and musical organizations make it one of the cultural centers of the Western Hemisphere. Some of the famous celebrities that were born in New York include: Oliver Stone, Stephen Baldwin, Claire Danes, Melissa Joan Hart, The Flag of New York Ratified the Constitution in 1788 as the 11th State; flag adopted in 1901. The coat of arms shows a scene along the Hudson River, framed by goddesses of liberty and justice. The American eagle surmounts the world at the top; the motto "Excelsior" appears below.   Largest Cities in the State (2000) New York, 8,008,278; Buffalo, 292,648; Rochester, 219,773; Yonkers, 196,086; Syracuse, 147,306; Albany, 95,658; New Rochelle, 72,182; Mount Vernon, 68,381; Schenectady, 61,821; Utica, 60,651   Business and Trade in New York Agriculture: Dairy products, cattle and other livestock, vegetables, nursery stock, apples. Industries: Printing and publishing, scientific instruments, electric equipment, machinery, chemical products, tourism. State Symbols and Emblems Bird: Bluebird Flower: Rose (rosa) Tree: Sugar Maple (acer saccharum) Song(s): I Love New York Motto: Excelsior (Ever upward) New York Travel - Vacation Destinations & Recreation National parks and historic locations suitable for family vacations or day trips. • Whitney Point - WHITNEY POINT • Statue Of Liberty National Monument - New York • Lower East Side Tenement Museum National Historic Site - New York • Women's Rights National Historical Park - Seneca Falls • The Jazz Museum in Harlem - New York

Capital: Albany     Local Weather  Statehood: 1788-07-26  Population: 18,976,457 (401.9 mi2)   Geographic Area (mi2)     Total 54,556.00     Water 7,342.22     Land 47,213.79     Rank 30th Largest   State Education:     Pub & Prv Schools     College & University     Libraries   Border States: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont   Health Information:     Illicit Drug Use     Youth Risk Survey   Housing: In New York, there are 7,679,307 housing units, averaging to 162.6 per sq mile.   Related Magazines:     New York Observer     Albany Business Review     Hudson Valley Magazine     Buffalo Business First     New York Review of Books Magazine     New York Magazine     Picture   Posters and Artwork Polo Grounds, New York City Pre-Matted Print 14" x 11" • New York, Empire State Building Art Print 19" x 39" • Vogue, New York, 1945 Art Print 23" x 31" • Skyline, Genessee River, Rochester, New York Photographic Print 32" x 24" • Lights of Times Square Reflected on Trunk of Limousine, New York City, New York, USA Photographic Print 12" x 16" • Orient Point Lighthouse, Long Island, New York Pre-Matted Print 11" x 14"